As special counsel Robert Mueller builds his case, relatives of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn are among those pressing the president to use his unique legal power and ‘put these defendants out of their misery.’

Jeremy Heywood: UK civil service won’t withhold EU facts

Jeremy Heywood, the U.K.’s most senior civil servant, defended guidelines advising British officials not to provide briefings and speeches for ministers wanting to make the case for the U.K. to leave the European Union.

A row about the guidelines erupted Monday when several pro-Brexit ministers criticized Heywood. The Sun revealed that Iain Duncan Smith, the work and pensions secretary, ordered his department to disregard the guidelines and send him all EU-related documents. Priti Patel, the employment minister, accused Heywood of acting unconstitutionally.

“I’m really struggling to see what the problem is here,” said a clearly frustrated Heywood.

“We are not supplying briefings and speech material to those ministers that want to make a case against the government position on leaving,” Heywood told MPs.

He insisted the guidelines were in line with the civil service code and said that officials would continue to provide facts. “There is no intention of withholding facts from ministers.”